The highly anticipated fifth WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup season kicks off next week (May 7-8) at Circuit de Pau-Ville, as WTCR Clean Fuels For All Race of France launches the 2022 hunt for track glory.
Bringing FIA World Touring Car racing back to its iconic street circuit in southwestern France has been over 10 years in the making, but the return comes at an exciting time for the WTCR with a driver lineup full of race and title winners.
This is what the FIA World Touring Car Cup – WTCR will look like in 2022.
Indeed, all but one of the star drivers who have signed up for the entire upcoming campaign are a race winner in the series with the entry list of established racers and emerging talent sharing 62 WTCR race wins and nine FIA World Touring Car titles.
In addition, five brands, Audi, CUPRA, Honda, Hyundai and Lynk & Co, will be represented through their customer racing departments, while eight teams, all using Goodyear tires and sustainable fuel from P1 Racing Fuels, have signed up for more FIA World To pursue touring activities. Car gold.
The WTCR is the pinnacle of customer touring car racing and tops the ladder of the TCR category. The WTCR evolved from the FIA World Touring Car Championship and is administered by the FIA and promoted by Discovery Sports Events.
Circuit de Pau-Ville features two practice sessions, a three-stage qualifying including two elimination periods and two races, the main action of which will be broadcast live around the world. There is an update to the race format for 2022 and more details are available below.
In addition to coveted FIA world titles for drivers and teams, independent racers without financial support from a manufacturer are eligible for the WTCR Trophy. Meanwhile, a Balance of Performance formula helps maintain a level playing field. The engine power is limited to 360 hp at speeds of up to 260 km/h.
The Goodyear #FollowTheLeader recognizes the driver at the top of the standings after each qualifying session or race. They wear the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader jacket and wear the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader yellow windshield strip on their car until they are no longer at the top of the points standings.
WTCR RACE OF FRANCE ESSENTIALS
Rounds: 1 and 2 of 20
Date: 7-8 May
Location: Circuit de Pau-Ville
Location: ASAC Basco Bearnais, Palais D’Aragon, Bd D’Aragon, Pau F-64000, France
Track length: 2,760 kilometers
Race 1 distance: 30 minutes + 1 lap
Race 2 distance: 25 minutes + 1 lap
WTCR qualifying lap record: to be determined
WTCR race lap record: to be determined
Circuit de Pau-Ville in 100 words: FIA racing at international level returns to the streets of Pau for the first time since 2018 with the revival of the world-famous Grand Prix de Pau in southwestern France. Circuit de Pau-Ville, previously home to the FIA World Touring Car Championship between 2007 and 2009, is 20 kilometers east of Circuit Pau-Arnos, the setting of France’s inaugural WTCR race in October 2021. Pau was home to of car racing of various types since the 1930s with legends such as Jim Clark, Juan Manuel Fangio, Lewis Hamilton, Sébastien Loeb and Jackie Stewart taking victories over time on the challenging undulating layout.
Schedule:
Saturday 7 May:
09h50-10h35: Free Practice 1 (Live on Facebook, YouTube, Eurosport Player)
14h50-15h20: Free Practice 2 (Live on Facebook, YouTube, Eurosport Player)
5.30pm-6pm: Qualification Q1 (Live on Eurosport Player and other broadcasters around the world)*
18.05-18.20: Qualification Q2 (Live on Eurosport Player and other broadcasters around the world)*
6.30pm-6.45pm: Qualification Q3 (Live on Eurosport Player and other broadcasters around the world)*
*Comment feed available on FIAWTCR.com, full broadcast details available HERE starting next week
Sunday May 8:
13:10: Race 1 (30 minutes + 1 lap) (Live on Eurosport Player and other broadcasters around the world)
13h50: podium race 1
5:10 PM: Race 2 (25 minutes + 1 lap) (Live on Eurosport Player and other broadcasters around the world)
5.45 pm: podium race 2